Two Meteor Showers to Light Up the April Sky

In late April, two spectacular meteor showers are set to streak across the night sky, converging for a unique event. The Lyrids and the Eta Aquarids are the two meteor showers set to overlap. 

The Lyrids, among the oldest recorded showers, peak on April 21–22 and can produce up to 100 meteors per hour during rare outbursts. The Eta Aquarids, spawned from debris left behind by Halley's Comet, will peak later in early May but begin activity around April 20. Between April 20-26, both showers will be in active periods. 

Lyrids

The Lyrid meteor shower is visible in the Spring from April 15 to 29 and peaking around April 21–22. It was first observed in 687 BCE by Chinese astronomers. The Lyrids are one of the oldest known meteor showers. They originate from Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which won’t return until 2276. Meteors from this shower appear to radiate from the constellation Lyra, near the bright star Vega.

Under ideal dark skies, viewers can expect 15–20 meteors per hour. Sometimes, surges can reach up to 100 per hour. The Lyrids are known for being bright and fast, traveling at speeds of around 49 km per second, and typically leave short-lived trails. Best viewed after midnight, the Lyrids offer a captivating, if sometimes unpredictable, display to those patient enough to wait for its fleeting moments.